USS Knox (FF-1052)

USS Knox (FF-1052)

USS Knox (DE-1052/FF-1052) was the prototype and lead ship in a new class of destroyer escorts in the United States Navy. She was the second ship to be named for Commodore Dudley Wright Knox.

Knox was laid down 5 October 1965, by Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington; launched 19 November 1966; sponsored by Mrs. Peter A. Sturtevant, granddaughter of Commodore Knox; and was commissioned on 12 April 1969 with Commander William A. Lamm in command.

Knox performed search and rescue operations and provided evacuation, blockade, and surveillance support, when necessary, for the Pacific Fleet. In April 1975 Knox participated in Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Knox was redesignated a frigate on 30 June 1975 as FF-1052.

Brian Victoria alleges that the Knox was equipped with nuclear depth bombs during its time assigned to Yokosuka, Japan in violation of the security agreement between Japan and the US.

Mark Rau, who was an EM3 stationed on board the Knox when it changed home port to Yokosuka in 1977, reports that no such weapons were on board the Knox at anytime during his tour of duty on board the USS Knox from Nov 1976-Dec 1978.

Decommissioned on 14 February 1992, Knox was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 11 January 1995. NAVSEA temporarily placed the Knox on the donation hold list but removed her from the list around 2003.

Knox was sunk as a target off Guam during an exercise on 7 August 2007.